1943–44 American ice hockey season

This was the 1943-44 American ice hockey season:

Leagues

• American Hockey League
• Eastern Hockey League
• Metropolitan Amateur Hockey League
• National Hockey League (Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers)
• Northwest International Hockey League
• Southern California Hockey League
• United States National Senior Championship

Alaska

Alaskan Department Winter Sports Carnival @ Anchorage

• 2/25: Canadian Soldiers - Fort Richardson All-Stars 6:1
• 2/27: Canadian Soldiers - Fort Richardson All-Stars 5:1
• 3/1: Canadian Soldiers - Fort Richardson All-Stars 6:0

Baltimore, Maryland

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutters, based in Baltimore, played in the Eastern Hockey League until November 29, 1943, when they dropped out. The team took part in exhibition games for the remainder of the season. They played some of their home games in Washington, DC. They successfully defended their United States National Senior Championship (see article for results).

Exhibition Game Results

• 11/27: Cutters - Royal Canadian Navy Signal School 9:3
• 11/28: Royal Canadian Navy Signal School - Cutters 5:3
• 12/15: Cutters - H.M.C.S. York (Canadian Navy) 2:2 OT
• 12/17: Cutters - H.M.C.S. York (Canadian Navy) 6:3 @ Washington
• 12/18: H.M.C.S. York (Canadian Navy) - Cutters 5:4
• 12/28: Cutters - Ottawa Commandos 5:2 @ Washington
• 12/29: Cutters - Ottawa Commandos 3:0
• 12/30: Cutters - Ottawa Commandos 6:5 OT
• 1/5: Detroit Red Wings (NHL) - Cutters 8:3
• 1/18: Cutters - Philadelphia Falcons 5:3 @ Washington
• 1/19: Cutters - Philadelphia Falcons 7:3
• 1/21: Cutters - Boston Olympics 7:1 @ Boston
• 1/22: Boston Olympics - Cutters 2:1 @ Boston
• 1/23: Cutters - Philadelphia Falcons 7:3
• 2/2: Cutters - New York Rovers 12:4
• 2/4: Cutters - Royal Canadian Navy Signal School 2:0
• 2/5: Cutters - Royal Canadian Navy Signal School 3:2 @ Washington
• 2/6: Cutters - Royal Canadian Navy Signal School 4:4
• 2/12: Cutters - Windsor Spitfires 7:3
• 2/13: Cutters - Windsor Spitfires 10:2 @ Washington
• 2/15: Cutters - Boston Olympics 4:3
• 2/16: Hershey Bears - Cutters 2:0 @ Washington
• 2/18: Cutters - Hershey Bears 4:4 @ Washington
• 2/26: St. Catharines - Cutters 9:5
• 2/27: Cutters - St. Catharines 7:6 OT @ Washington

Cleveland, Ohio

1943-44 Game Results

• 1/16: Cleveland Arena Amateurs - Lorain Centrals 5:5 OT (4:4 after regulation)

Massachusetts

1943-44 Game Results

• 12/19: Palmer Sports Center - Three Rivers Orioles 6:4
• 1/2: Marblehead Crescents - Salem Witches 4:3
• 1/16: Marblehead Crescents - Danvers Hockey Club 3:1
• 1/16: Bondsville Ducks - Three Rivers Orioles 5:2
• 1/31: Arlington Hockey Club - Marbleton Crescents 2:1
• 2/7: Marblehead Crescents - Gloucester Hockey Club 11:4
• 2/9: Arlington Hockey Club - Marblehead Crescents 7:5
• 2/20: Melrose Hockey Club - Marblehead Crescents 9:6
• 2/20: Newton - Boston College Informals 8:6
• 2/21: Boston 97 Club - Boston College Informals 14:0
• 2/26: Holy Cross Informals - Boston College Informals 2:1
• 3/6: Marblehead Crescents - Danvers Hockey Club 5:4

The Three Rivers Hornets laid claim to the Quabog Valley amateur championship. As of 1/12, they had reportedly won seven consecutive games over Palmer Sports Center, Monson All-Stars, Thorndike Indians, and the Bondsville Ducks.

Minnesota

Duluth Coolerators

The Park Arena Hockey League was contested at the Minneapolis Arena.

1943-44 Game Results

• 1/1: Fort Frances Maple Leafs (ON) - Duluth Coolerators
• 1/1: Taconite - Eveleth Rangers 7:3
• 1/2: Eveleth Rangers - Taconite 7:1
• 1/?: Taconite - Eveleth Rangers 4:1
• 1/?: Fort Frances (ON) - Eveleth Rangers 14:4
• 1/5: Nicollet Flyers - Diamond Lake 7:6
• 1/9: Eveleth Rangers - Virginia 8:1
• 1/12: Eveleth Rangers - Taconite 6:4
• 1/15: Eveleth Rangers - International Falls 16:4
• 1/16: Eveleth Rangers - Virginia 6:5
• 1/22: Eveleth Rangers - International Falls-Fort Frances Combination 11:3
• 1/23: Riverside Shipyard - Eveleth Rangers 6:3
• 2/6: Eveleth Juniors - Virginia Falcons 7:3
• 2/6: Duluth Coolerators - Minneapolis Honeywells 8:5
• 2/6: D.W. Onan - Minnesota Mining 3:0
• 2/12: Eveleth Rangers - Taconite 7:4
• 2/13: Fort Frances Maple Leafs (ON) - Eveleth Rangers 9:3
• 2/21: Riverside Shipyard - Eveleth Rangers 4:3
• 3/4: Superior Butler Shipbuilders - Minneapolis Wold-Chamberlain Field Fliers 7:3
• 3/14: Duluth Coolerators - Head of the Lakes All-Stars 10:3

Minneapolis Park Arena Hockey League Results

• 1/2: Honeywells - Fort Snelling 7:5
• 1/5: Al Bermans - Naval Fliers 3:2
• 1/9: Honeywells - Al Bermans 3:1
• 1/12: Naval Fliers - Fort Snelling 2:1
• 1/16: Honeywells - Naval Fliers 2:1 OT
• 1/19: Fort Snelling - Al Bermans 1:1 OT
• 1/23: Naval Fliers - Al Bermans 2:1
• 1/26: Fort Snelling - Honeywells 3:1
• 1/30: Naval Fliers - Fort Snelling 4:1
• 2/2: Al Bermans - Honeywells 5:4
• 2/6: Al Bermans - Fort Snelling 9:2
• 2/9: Honeywells - Naval Fliers 3:1
• 2/16: Naval Fliers - Al Bermans 7:4
• 2/20: Naval Fliers - Fort Snelling 2:1
• 2/23: Honeywells - Al Bermans 4:1
• 2/27: Al Bermans - Fort Snelling 4:2
• 3/1: Honeywells - Naval Fliers 5:2
• 3/5: Honeywells - Fort Snelling 4:2

Minneapolis Park Hockey League Results

Senior

• 1/9: D.W. Onan - Walter Wrecking Co. 3:2 OT
• 1/14: Mitby Sathers - D.W. Onan 6:0
• 1/16: Mitby Sathers - Walter Wrecking Co. 2:0
• 2/11: D.W. Onan - Walter Wrekcing Co. 1:0
• 2/13: Mitby Sathers - D.W. Onan 2:0
• 2/17: Mitby Sathers - Walter Wrecking Co. 10:0

Intermediate

• 1/9: Nicollet Millers - Salem 15:1
• 1/9: Acme Box Lunch - Nicollet Flyers 3:1
• 1/9: Camden - Al Bermans 3:1
• 1/13: Pearl Lake - Salem 7:0
• 1/13: Nicollet Millers - Camden 4:1
• 1/13: Al Bermans - Acme Box Lunch 4:2
• 1/16: Nicollet Millers - Pearl Lake 5:1
• 1/16: Al Bermans - Salem 7:0
• 1/16: Camden - Nicollet Flyers 6:2
• 2/10: Nicollet Flyers - Pearl Lake 2:0
• 2/10: Camden - Salem 5:3
• 2/13: Nicollet Millers - Al Bermans 3:2
• 2/13: Pearl Lake - Acme Box Lunch 7:4
• 2/13: Nicollet Flyers - Salem 7:1
• 2/15: Al Bermans - Pearl Lake 5:1
• 2/15: Nicollet Millers - Nicollet Flyers 4:1 - Millers clinched title
• 2/17: Al Bermans - Nicollet Flyers 4:3
• 2/17: Pearl Lake - Camden 2:0

St. Paul Municipal Hockey League Results

City League

• 1/2: Silver Stripes - Minnehaha Drugs 4:3 OT
• 1/2: Harry Muggleys - South St. Paul Police 4:0
• 1/2: St. Bernards - Minnesota Mining 1:0
• 1/9: Silver Stripes - South St. Paul Police 7:0
• 1/9: Minnehaha Drugs - Minnesota Mining 11:0
• 1/13: Harry Muggleys - St. Bernards 12:1
• 1/16: Silver Stripes - St. Bernards 6:1
• 1/16: Harry Muggleys - Minnesota Mining 8:2
• 1/16: Minnehaha Drugs - South St. Paul Police 4:1
• 1/23: Minnehaha Drugs - Harry Muggleys 2:1
• 1/23: Silver Stripes - Minnesota Mining 4:1
• 2/3: South St. Paul Police - St. Bernards 1:0
• 2/6: St. Benards - South St. Paul Police 4:1
• 2/7: Minnehaha Drugs - St. Bernards 5:4
• 2/8: Harry Muggleys - Silver Stripes 2:0
• 2/8: Minnesota Mining - South St. Paul Police 2:0
• 2/13: Minnesota Mining - St. Bernards 5:2
• 2/13: Harry Muggleys - Silver Stripes 11:2 - semifinal
• 2/13: Harry Muggleys - Minnehaha Drugs 11:0 - final

Junior League

• 1/2: Hamline Juniors - Groveland Merchants 5:0
• 1/2: J. Kouba Grocery - Bluff Juniors 3:1
• 1/2: Zandell Drugs - Como Boosters 4:1
• 1/9: Groveland Merchants - West Minnehaha 4:3
• 1/9: Zandell Drugs - West End Merchants 4:2
• 1/9: Hamline Juniors - Baker Boosters 2:1
• 1/9: Dunning Flyers - Como Boosters 2:1 OT
• 1/16: Dunning Flyers - West Minnehaha 2:0
• 1/16: Bluff Boosters - Groveland Merchants 2:0
• 1/16: Zandell Drugs - Baker Boosters 4:1
• 1/16: Hamline Juniors - Como Boosters 4:1
• 1/23: West End Juniors - Dunning Flyers 2:1
• 2/6: Zandell Drugs - Hamline Juniors 3:2
• 2/7: Dunning Flyers - Baker Boosters 3:1
• 2/8: Bluff Boosters - Como Boosters 1:1
• 2/9: Zandell Drugs - Dunning Flyers 3:0
• 2/9: Baker Boosters - West End Merchants 2:1 OT
• 2/9: Groveland Merchants - West End Merchants 1:0
• 2/13: Hamline Juniors - Bluff Boosters 4:0
• 2/13: Baker Boosters - Como Boosters 1:0 OT
• 2/13: Dunning Flyers - Groveland Merchants 1:0

Head of the Lakes Hockey League Results

• 12/18: Riverside Shipyard - Duluth Coast Guard 6:0
• 12/18: Coolerators - Superior Butler Shipbuilders 6:2
• 12/25: Superior Butler Shipbuilders - Northwestern Oilers 3:2
• 12/25: Coolerators - Riverside Shipbuilders 1:1 OT
• 12/29: Duluth Coast Guard - Superior Butler Shipbuilders 2:1
• 12/29: Coolerators - Northwestern Oilers 10:1
• 1/1: Riverside Shipyard - Superior Butler Shipbuilders 2:1
• 1/1: Northwestern Oilers - Duluth Coast Guard 1:0
• 1/5: Coolerators - Duluth Coast Guard 7:1
• 1/5: Riverside Shipyard - Northwestern Oilers 5:1
• 1/8: Coolerators - Superior Butler Shipbuilders 3:2
• 1/8: Riverside Shipyard - Duluth Coast Guard 5:0
• 1/12: Coolerators - Northwestern Oilers 9:3
• 1/12: Superior Butler Shipbuilders - Duluth Coast Guard 5:0
• 1/15: Duluth Coast Guard - Northwestern Oilers 3:1
• 1/15: Superior Butler Shipbuilders - Riverside Shipyard 3:2
• 1/19: Riverside Shipyard - Coolerators 4:3
• 1/19: Superior Butler Shipbuilders - Northwestern Oilers 3:1
• 2/2: Riverside Shipyard - Northwestern Oilers 7:1
• 2/2: Coolerators - Superior Butler Shipbuilders 6:3
• 2/5: Coolerators - Northwestern Oilers 4:0
• 2/5: Riverside Shipyard - Superior Butler Shipbuilders 7:3
• 2/9: Coolerators - Riverside Shipyard 6:1
• 2/9: Superior Butler Shipbuilders - Northwestern Oilers 4:2
• 2/12: Coolerators - Superior Butler Shipbuilders 2:1
• 2/12: Riverside Shipyard - Northwestern Oilers 2:0
• 2/16: Superior Butler Shipbuilders - Riverside Shipyard 4:4 OT
• 2/16: Coolerators - Northwestern Oilers 10:1
• 2/23: Riverside Shipyard - Coolerators 4:3
• 2/23: Superior Butler Shipbuilders - Northwestern Oilers 10:3
• 2/26: Coolerators - Superior Butler Shipbuilders 6:1
• 2/26: Riverside Shipyard - Northwestern Oilers 4:0

Coast Guard withdrew in mid-January.

Semifinal

• 3/1: Riverside Shipyard - Superior Butler Shipbuilders 4:3
• 3/4: Superior Butler Shipbuilders - Riverside Shipyard 5:3
• 3/7: Riverside Shipyard - Superior Butler Shipbuilders 5:3

Final

• 3/9: Coolerators - Riverside Shipyard 10:4
• 3/12: Coolerators - Riverside Shipyard 6:3

Duluth Junior Hockey League Results

Standings as of 2/13

1. Wheeler Panthers 5-0
2. Central Field 3-1
3. Observation 1-1
4. Woodland Wolves 1-2
5. Longview Blackhawks 1-3
6. Irving 0-4

• 2/17: Wheeler Panthers - Central Field 6:1 - Wheeler clinched title

Arrowhead Hockey Tournament Results

(2/19-20)

• Hibbing - Grand Rapids 4:0
• Chisholm - Virginia Boyle & Mather
• Sparta Spartans - Wheeler Panthers 7:2
• Eveleth Juniors - Chisholm 10:0
• Virginia Grande - Longview Blackhawks 8:1
• Taconite - Hibbing 5:1 (after second period)
• Eveleth Juniors - Sparta Spartans 3:2
• Taconite - Vieginia Grande 2:0
• Eveleth Juniors - Taconite 9:3 - final

Montana

The Butte Copper Kings had the best record of the four active teams in Montana in 1943-44.

1943-44 Game Results

• 1/9: Butte Copper Kings - Montana School of Mines 3:2
• 1/16: Butte Copper Kings - Montana School of Mines 6:3
• 1/23: Butte Copper Kings - Montana School of Mines 5:4
• 1/29: Montana School of Mines - Great Falls 7th Ferry Command 10:8
• 1/30: Butte Copper Kings - Great Falls 7th Ferry Command 4:2
• 2/5: Montana School of Mines - Great Falls 7th Ferry Command 7:3
• 2/6: Great Falls 7th Ferry Command - Montana School of Mines 11:3
• 2/12: Great Falls 7th Ferry Command - Great Falls Independents 6:3
• 2/19: Montana School of Mines - Great Falls 7th Ferry Command 4:3
• 2/20: Butte Copper Kings - Great Falls 7th Ferry Command 6:4
• 2/26: Great Falls Independents - Montana School of Mines 4:2
• 2/27: Great Falls Independents - Montana School of Mines 8:5
• 3/4: Great Falls Independents - Butte Copper Kings 8:6 OT
• 3/5: Butte Copper Kings - Great Falls 7th Ferry Command 5:4
• 3/11: Warner All-Stars (AB) - Great Falls 7th Ferry Command 7:3 @ Great Falls
• 3/12: Warner All-Stars (AB) - Great Falls Independents 8:7 @ Great Falls

New York

The Niagara Frontier Amateur Hockey League was contested again in the Buffalo area this winter.

Niagara Frontier Amateur Hockey League Results

• 12/12: Fort Erie Fleet Aircraft - Curtiss-Wright 9:3
• 12/12: Frontier Blue Banners - Niagara Falls Mangs 1:0 OT
• 12/19: Fort Erie Fleet Aircraft - Niagara Falls Mangs 5:4
• 12/19: Curtiss-Wright - Frontier Blue Banners 4:3
• 12/26: Frontier Blue Banners - Fort Erie Fleet Aircraft 1:1
• 12/26: Niagara Falls Mangs - Curtiss-Wright 6:1
• 1/2: Curtiss-Wright - Fort Erie Fleet Aircraft 2:2
• 1/2: Niagara Falls Mangs - Frontier Blue Banners 4:1
• 1/9: Fort Erie Fleet Aircraft - Niagara Falls Mangs 5:4 OT
• 1/9: Curtiss-Wright - Frontier Blue Banners 4:3
• 1/16: Frontier Blue Banners - Fort Erie Fleet Aircraft 2:0
• 1/16: Niagara Falls Mangs - Curtiss-Wright 4:2
• 1/23: Curtiss-Wright - Fort Erie Fleet Aircraft 4:2
• 1/23: Niagara Falls Mangs - Frontier Blue Banners 8:1
• 2/6: Fort Erie Fleet Aircraft - Niagara Falls Mangs 5:2
• 2/6: Curtiss-Wright - Frontier Blue Banners 4:2
• 2/20: Niagara Falls Mangs - Frontier Blue Banners 7:1
• 2/20: Fort Erie Fleet Aircraft - Curtiss-Wright 5:0
• 2/27: Fort Erie Fleet Aircraft - Niagara Falls Mangs 1:0 OT
• 2/27: Curtiss-Wright - Frontier Blue Banners 3:2
• 3/5: Fort Erie Fleet Aircraft - Frontier Blue Banners 5:1
• 3/5: Niagara Falls Mangs - Curtiss-Wright 6:3
• 3/12: Niagara Falls Mangs - Curtiss-Wright 5:3 - semifinal
• 3/19: Fort Erie Fleet Aircraft - Niagara Falls Mangs 6:4 - final

Rome City Hockey League Results

Standings

1. Moose Club 5-1-0-10
2. Stryker Club 4-2-0-8
3. Masonic Club 2-4-0-4
4. American Legion 1-5-0-2

Semifinals

• 2/20: American Legion - Stryker Club 6:5 OT
• 2/20: Moose Club - Masonic Club 8:2

Final

Reportedly won by American Legion, but no game result found.

Massena Alcoa AA Industrial Hockey League Results

Standings

1. Shipping Department 8-2-0-16
2. Reduction 5-2-3-13
3. Machine Shop 5-3-2-12
4. Blooming Mill 5-4-1-11
5. Physical Lab 2-7-1-5
6. Merchant Mill 1-8-1-3

• Reduction - Machine Shop 1:0, 2:3, 1:0 tiebreaker OT - semifinal
• Shipping Department - Blooming Mill 1:2, 4:2 - "
• Reduction - Shipping Department 1:0, 8:4 - final

North Dakota

Some Manitoban teams played games in Bottineau this winter.

1943-44 Game Results

• 3/4: Deloraine Seniors (MB) - Hartney Air Corps Service (MB) 8:7 OT
• 3/18: Deloraine Seniors (MB) - Hartney Air Corps Service (MB) 8:6

Pennsylvania

1943-44 Game Results

• 1/9: Iceland Lakes - Red Lion 2:1
• 1/16: Iceland Lakes - Saginaw 13:3
• 1/25: Iceland Lakes - Saginaw 3:2
• 2/2: Iceland Lakes - Saginaw 5:3
• 2/6: Iceland Lakes - Southern York 2:2
• 2/8: Iceland Lakes - Saginaw 8:5
• 2/13: Iceland Lakes - Saginaw-Southern York 11:3
• 2/13: Saginaw-Southern York - Iceland Lakes 5:3
• 2/16: Iceland Lakes - Saginaw 9:8
• 2/20: Saginaw - Iceland Lakes 3:2

South Dakota

There were some exhibition games played between teams from Tilford and Rapid City this winter.

1943-44 Game Results

• 2/7: Tilford - Rapid City Army 9:7
• 2/13: Rapid City Army - Tilford 14:13 3OT
• 2/18: Tilford - Rapid City Tom's Bar 5:3
• 2/24: Tilford - Rapid City Tom's Bar 8:4

Toledo, Ohio

The Toledo Bombers played an independent schedule this winter.

Toledo Bombers Game Results

• 1/22: Toledo Bombers - Point Edward (ON) 12:6
• 1/29: Toledo Bombers - St. Thomas (ON) 10:4
• 2/5: Toledo Bombers - Detroit Hornets (MI) 6:0
• 2/19: Indianapolis Capitals - Toledo Bombers 9:1
• 2/26: Toledo Bombers - Seaforth Beavers (ON) 11:10
• 3/4: Toledo Bombers - Detroit Hornets (MI) 9:4
• 3/11: Toledo Bombers - London RCAF (ON) 12:6

Wichita, Kansas

The Wichita Semi-Pro Hockey League returned for its third season in 1943-44. The Beech Flyers were replaced with the Tulsa (Oklahoma) Flyers on January 9. Five of their players were formerly of Beech.

Wichita Semi-Pro Hockey League Results

• 12/12: Cessna Cranes - Boeing Comets 3:2
• 12/19: Boeing Comets - Beech Flyers 7:4
• 12/26: Cessna Cranes - Boeing Comets 4:2
• 1/2: Cessna Cranes - Beech Flyers 10:3
• 1/9: Boeing Comets - Tulsa Flyers 4:1
• 1/16: Cessna Cranes - Tulsa Flyers 4:2
• 1/23: Boeing Comets - Cessna Cranes 8:4 - final, game one
• 1/30: Boeing Comets - Cessna Cranes 5:0 - final, game two

Wisconsin

1943-44 Game Results

• 1/2: Fond du Lac Bears - Beaver Dam YMCA 6:2
• 1/6: Fond du Lac Bears - Oshkosh
• 1/16: Beaver Dam YMCA - Kekoskee 7:4
• 2/20: Kekoskee - Beaver Dam YMCA 1:0

College ice hockey

See: 1943–44 American college hockey season

American ice hockey seasons (1920-1945)
1920–21 - 1921–22 - 1922–23 - 1923–24 - 1924–25 - 1925–26 - 1926–27 - 1927–28 - 1928–29 - 1929–30 - 1930–31 - 1931–32 - 1932–33 - 1933–34 - 1934–35 - 1935–36 - 1936–37 - 1937–38 - 1938–39 - 1939–40 - 1940–41 - 1941–42 - 1942–43 - 1943–44 - 1944–45